Anzac Day commemorations around New Zealand
Thousands of people have gathered around the country for dawn services to commemorate Anzac Day.
National anthems were played, bagpipes rang out, and crowds of people - young and old - stood together as the sun rose on a clear but cool autumn morning.
In Auckland, the Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro gave the Anzac address at the War Memorial.
In Wellington, silent crowds gathered in the cool morning at Pukeahu National War Memorial.
Among them was Mona Williams who says she hasn't missed an Anzac Day since 1973.
Two Defence Force helicopters conducted a fly by during the service.
Hundreds were at Kaiuku Marae in Māhia where poppies and white crosses were placed in the ground around the local war memorial.
While in Christchurch, people rugged up to gather in Cathedral Square for the service, followed by a wreath-laying.
What you need to know:
- Thousands are marking Anzac Day at services and parades. Here we explain the history behind the public holiday.
- This Anzac Day marks the 110th anniversary of New Zealand and Australian troops landing on the Gallipoli peninsula, now part of Türkiye. Nearly 2800 New Zealanders died during the campaign in 1915, and 5212 were wounded.
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will mark the anniversary in Türkiye, the first Prime Minister to visit since 2015.
Dawn services should be dry across the country with just a few possible showers in the Far North, Gisborne, and the West Coast. - RNZ will have special programming: Anzac Morning with Stacey Morrison from 5.50am to 10am, and Anzac Day with Susana Leiataua from 10am to 12pm. RNZ National frequencies on FM and AM are available here.
- Follow the RNZ live blog here
